Overview
- The Justice Department order, issued April 23, reclassified FDA‑approved cannabis drugs and marijuana sold under state medical licenses to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
- The scope is narrow as adult‑use marijuana, hemp, and synthetic THC remain outside the change and generally stay illegal under federal drug schedules.
- DEA created a streamlined federal registration route for state medical operators, offering six‑month reviews for manufacturer, distributor, and dispenser registrations tied to existing state licenses.
- Employers now face ADA duties to consider off‑duty medical use, with THC testing treated as a medical exam and safety‑sensitive jobs under Department of Transportation rules left unchanged.
- The Acting Attorney General said Section 280E should no longer block business deductions for state medical operators, yet final tax treatment awaits Treasury and IRS guidance.